Portable exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention includes the method and apparatus of attaching exercise equipment, such as various lengths and configurations of elastic resistance tubing, to athletic footwear. Among the many configurations of the invention is whereby the elastic tubing and handle assembly is permanently connected to the sneaker. Another configuration of the invention is the use of the elastic tubing and handle assembly being equipped with an end clip fastener that can be easily and quickly fastened to and/or unfastened from a sneaker or other type of footwear. Other improvements include a reinforcement ring that may be attached to one or more laces of the shoe and/or other components such as VELCRO strips that can be attached to the body of an athletic shoe to make the attachment, stowage and use of the elastic cord and handle assembly more secure and safer during use.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to improvements for securing resistance training assemblies made of elastic resistance tubing to footwear used for exercising.

2. Description of Related Art

As resistance training cords gain greater acceptance as a common form of training device for exercising throughout the world, the need to provide a safe and secure connection between the device and a person's feet is desired. Also, as the sophistication and variety of exercises using resistance training cords increases, the need for different types and strengths of permanent and temporary fastening arrangements to athletic footwear is required.

SUMMARY

It is the object of the invention to permanently attach a resistance training cord assembly made of elastic tubing or bungee cord that may have a rigid or flexible handle to a sneaker, shoe, boot, sock or other device that may be worn on the body.

Another object of the invention is to fold and secure a resistance training cord assembly made of elastic tubing or cord (that permanently or temporarily attached) in such a manner that a person can walk, run and or exercise with it in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resistance training cord assembly made of elastic cord or tubing that may have a rigid or flexible handle on one end with a fastener on the other end that may be attached to a sneaker, shoe, boot, sock or other device that may be worn on the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a resistance tubing assembly having a handle on one end with a fastening clip on the other end.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an anchor pin and ends straps placed in the mid-sole area of a sneaker.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a sneaker with two VELCRO strips mounted on its mid-body section and an anchor pin and strap located in its mid-sole.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a resistance tubing assembly shown in a folded and stowed position, secured on a sneaker.

FIG. 5 is a end view of a heel of a sneaker showing two VELCRO attachment strips sewn on its mid-body area, a heel loop and an anchor pin and strap located on the middle section of its sole.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a heel of a sneaker with a resistance tubing assembly attached via VELCRO strips and an anchor pin and strap.

FIG. 7 is a detailed, side view of a resistance tube assembly attached to an anchor pin and strap mounted on the sole of a sneaker.

FIG. 8 is an end view of a sneaker whereby a section of resistance tubing of a resistance tubing assembly is secured to the inside sole area of a sneaker with a strap.

FIG. 9 is a detailed side view of a resistance tubing assembly attached via a spring clip fastener to a ring located around a shock absorber component on the heel part of the sole of a sneaker.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a person exercising using a resistance tubing assembly temporarily fastened to a sneaker using a spring clip.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a person exercising with a resistance tubing assembly that is temporarily attached to a sneaker while also wearing a pouch to stow the resistance tubing assembly when not in use.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a person exercising with a resistance tubing assembly by extending an arm backwards while extending a leg forward to create tension on the tubing.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a person exercising with a resistance tubing assembly by extending an arm forward while at the same time extending a leg backward to create tension on the tubing.

FIG. 14 is an orthogonal view of a sneaker with a ring attached to two rows of laces and another smaller ring attached directly to the top, front body of a sneaker at the bottom end of the tongue seam.

FIG. 15 is an ornithological view of the bottom end of a resistance tubing assembly, equipped with a tubing stop and spring clip, attached to two rows of lacing on a sneaker.

FIG. 16 is an orthogonal view of the bottom end of a resistance tubing assembly, equipped with a stop and spring clip, that is attached to a cable tie that is fastened around several rows of lacing on a sneaker.

FIG. 17 is an orthogonal view of the bottom end of a resistance tubing assembly that is attached to a reinforcement strap, equipped with a ring that is attached to the mid-body of a sneaker.

FIG. 18 is an orthogonal view of a cable tie attached to a row of lacing and through an eyelet on a sneaker.

FIG. 19 is an orthogonal view of a sneaker with a spring clip attached to a cable tie that is attached to several rows of lacing and through an eyelet.

FIG. 20 of a detailed top view of a resistance tube assembly showing a handle with a handle strap that is equipped with a grommet plate that will provide a stop when using a slip knot to tie off one end of the tubing. On the opposite end of the tubing is a grommet plate whereby the tubing is tied off with a slip knot around a ring.

FIG. 21 is a top view showing two reinforcement tabs, each with a ring, sewn to a sock.

FIG. 22 is a top view showing two reinforcement tabs, each with a ring, sewn to an ankle support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of resistance tubing 20 with cord lock 29 a and spring hook 22 secured to tubing end 31 a. On end 31 b of resistance tubing 31 a is cord lock 29 b with handle strap 18 attached to it. Handle strap may either be passed through handle 21 or attached to handle 21. Other elastic materials such as bungee cord, rubber cord, rubber bands, springs, etc . . . may be used in place of resistance tubing 20. Handle strap 18 may have VELCRO strips 27 and 28 or other types of fasteners attached to it so that resistance cord 20 and handle 21 may be stowed or secured to a shoe (not shown), sneaker (not shown) or other type of footwear (not shown) when not in use for exercising.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of anchor 16 inserted and secured in mid-sole 24 of sneaker 19. Anchor 16 may be made of metal, plastic or other types of rigid material and have threads for securing end caps 16 x and 16 y. If anchor 16 is made in the configuration such as a pin, without threads, end caps may be secured to anchor 16 using heat, adhesives or other types of fastening methods. Anchor 16 may also be made or used in the configuration of an eye bolt. Strap 23 is secured to anchor 16 on the outside of sneaker 19 to provide a means to fasten spring clip (not shown) and resistance tubing assembly (not shown) to sneaker 19 for the purpose of exercising. Strap 15 is attached to anchor 16 on the inside of mid-sole 24 of sneaker 19 which may be used to secure resistance tubing 20 (not shown) of resistance tubing assembly 57 (not shown) in a folded and somewhat stretched condition when not in use. Strap 15 may be made of VELCRO to form a loop to hold resistance tubing on sneaker 19. Bungee cord or some other type of elastic material could also be used to make strap 15.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the exterior side of sneaker 19 with VELCRO loop strip 25 and VELCRO loop strip 26 attached. VELCRO loop strips 25 and 26 may be sewn, glued or otherwise secured to mid-body 30 of sneaker 19. Anchor 16 and clip strap 17 are also shown secured to mid-sole 24 of sneaker 19.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the exterior side of sneaker 19 shown with VELCRO loop strips 25 and 26 attached to its mid-body portion with anchor pin 16 and strap 17 attached. To stow resistance tubing assembly 57 on sneaker 19 when it is not in use for exercising, spring clip 22 (which may be permanently or temporarily attached) remains fastened to anchor 16 and strap 17 while resistance tubing 20 is wrapped around the heel of sneaker 19 and fastened with strap 23 (not shown) on the interior side of sneaker 19 so that resistance cord 20 can be wrapped back around the heel to the exterior side of sneaker 19 whereby VELCRO hook tabs 27 and 28 on handle cord 18 are aligned with and fastened to VELCRO loop tabs 25 and 26 on mid-body of sneaker 19. Tongue 55 is shown under laces 34.

FIG. 5 is an end view of sneaker 19 with VELCRO loop tabs 25 and 26 attached to secure resistance cord assembly 57 (not shown). VELCRO loop tabs may be sewn or otherwise adhered on sneaker 19 at the factory where it is manufactured. VELCRO loop tabs 25 and 26 may also be fastened to sneaker 19 at a shoe repair store, shoe store or athletic shoe retail outlet. Heel loop 35 may also be added to sneaker 19 if it is not already part of the standard design. Likewise, anchor 16 strap 23 may also be added by the user, at a retail shoe outlet or by the manufacturer. It is also important to recognize that specialty sneaker retailers are offering to produce custom made sneaker via the internet and other outlets. All or any of the VELCRO loop tabs 25 and 26, anchor 16, strap 23 and other fastening devices as outlined herein may also be offered at these specialty internet and retail outlets for athletic shoes.

FIG. 6 is an end view of sneaker 19 with resistance cord assembly 57 wrapped around it so that resistance cord 20 and handle 21 (which may be rigid or flexible) are secured to sneaker 19 for walking and running when not in use for exercising. As shown, VELCRO hook tabs 27 and 28 on handle strap 18 are fastened to VELCRO loop tabs 26 and 25 respectively on the outside of sneaker 19. Resistance cord 20 is also looped and fastened to anchor strap 15 (not shown) on mid-sole 24 section on the inside of sneaker 19. End of resistance cord 20 is fastened to the outside mid-sole 24 of sneaker 19 via anchor 16.

FIG. 7 is a detailed, side view of resistance cord assembly 57 attached to sneaker 19. As shown, resistance cord end 31 b is attached to stop 29 b on handle strap 18 that is secured to handle 21. VELCRO hook tabs 27 and 28 are attached to handle strap 18. Resistance cord end 31 a is fastened to stop 29 a with spring clip 22 secured to provide a quick and easy fastening method of attaching and detaching resistance cord assembly 57 from clip strap 17 of anchor 16 on sneaker 19. VELCRO loop tabs 25 and 26 are attached to sneaker 19 for securing VELCRO hook tabs 27 and 27 of handle strap 18 when resistance tube assembly is to be stowed on sneaker 19. Spring clip 22 may also be made as a permanent attachment method and/or anchor 16.

FIG. 8 is an end view of anchor strap 15 holding resistance tube 20 on the inside mid-sole 24 of sneaker 19. Resistance tube 20 is typically pulled tight and under tension so that resistance tube assembly 57 is held snug to sneaker 19.

FIG. 9 is a detailed side view of sneaker 19 with hollow area 59 where shock absorbers 56 a and 56 b are positioned. As shown, ring 58 is attached to shock absorber 56 b to provide an attachment means for spring clip 22 of resistance cord assembly 57. Also, as shown in the configuration, handle strap 18, handle 21 and resistance cord 20 may be folded and stowed between laces 34 and tongue 55 of sneaker 19 when not in use for exercising. Stops 29 a and 29 b may be adjustable so that resistance cord 20 may be lengthened or shortened as desired.

FIG. 10 is a side view of person 60 exercising with handle 21 of resistance cord assembly 57 in hand 61 with the other end of resistance tubing 20 secured to sneaker 19 a via stop 29 a, spring clip 22 and strap 23. As person 60 moves hand 61 and arm 62 in combination with leg 68L staying motionless or moving, resistance tube 20 provides tension for exercising muscles of leg 68L and arm 62.

FIG. 11 is a front view of person 60 with sneakers 19 a and 19 b on the floor with arm 62 extended upward, providing tension in resistance tube 20 for exercising. As shown, in this configuration, resistance tube is held in hand 61 via handle 21 with the other end of resistance tube 20 attached to sneaker 19 b via stop 29 a, spring clip 22 and ring 63. Ring 63 is attached to eyelet 39 (not shown) of sneaker 19.

FIG. 12 is a side view of person 60 exercising with resistance cord assembly 57 by holding handle 21 in hand 61 while spring clip 22 on the other end is attached to ring 63 on sneaker 19 b. By lifting leg 68L forward and arm 61 backwards, tension in resistance tube 20 is created to exercise muscles in arm 61 and leg 68L of person 60.

FIG. 13 is a side view of person 60 using resistance tube assembly 57 with handle 21 held in hand 61 while resistance tube 20 extends to stop 29 a and spring clip 22 on bottom end of resistance tube 20 and is shown secured to heel loop 35 on sneaker 19 a. As person moves leg 68L and arm 62, resistance tube 20 is placed under tension causing muscles in arm 62 and leg 68L to be under load and exercised.

FIG. 14 is an orthogonal view of sneaker 19 with ring 63 held in place by running laces 36 through it. One or more series of laces 36 may be used to spread the concentrated load of ring 63 when it is connected to and under load by resistance tube 20.

FIG. 15 is orthogonal view of sneaker 19 with spring clip 22 of resistance tube 20 attached directly to laces 36. Again, one or more series of laces 36 may be used to spread the load so that undue wear and tear does not reduce the useful life of laces 36. Laces 36 may be of a standard, non-stretchable type or of a stretchable type.

FIG. 16 is an orthogonal view of sneaker 19 with cable tie 43 attached to laces 36. In this configuration, spring clip 22 of resistance tube 20 may be secured to cable tie 43. Cable tie 43 may also be passed through eyelet 39 (not shown) of sneaker 19 to act as an anchor for resistance tube assembly 57 (not shown.)

FIG. 17 is an orthogonal view of reinforcement tab 64 shown attached to mid-body 30 of sneaker 19. Ring 65 is attached to reinforcement tab 64 to provide an anchor point for connection for sneaker 19 to spring clip 22 of resistance tube 20.

Cable tie 43 is also shown attached to laces 36 which may be left on sneaker 19 for use as another point of attachment for resistance tube assembly 57 (not shown) should another exercise be required.

FIG. 18 is an orthogonal view of cable tie 43 fastened through eyelet 39 of sneaker 19. As part of the invention, any number of configurations can be used to provide a connection point for resistance tube assembly 57 (not shown) to sneaker 19.

FIG. 19 is an orthogonal view of cable tie 43 attached to eyelet 39 and laces with spring clip attached to cable tie 43 of sneaker 19. By placing spring clip 22 on laces, it can also be used to secure a looped (not shown) or ringed end (not shown) of resistance tube 20 for attachment. This configuration allows standard resistance tubing, without a special end clip, for temporary fastening of resistance tube assembly 57 (not shown) to sneaker 19.

FIG. 20 is a top view resistance cord assembly 57 with slip knots 37 a and 37 b be used to secure resistance cord 20 to grommet plates 66 a and 66 b respectively. Ring 43 may be attached to resistance tube 20 bottom end for fastening to spring clip 22 (not shown) that may be attached to laces (not shown) of sneaker 19 shown.

FIG. 21 is a front view of sock 69 with reinforcement tabs 64 a and 64 b sewn on with stitching 70 a and 70 b respectively. Rings 43 a and 43 b may be secured to reinforcement tabs 64 a and 64 b respectively or reinforcement tabs 64 a and 64 b could be used by themselves as a connection point to resistance tube assembly 57 (not shown.)

FIG. 22 is a side view of ankle support 69X with reinforcement tabs 64 a and 64 b sewn on using stitching 70 a and 70 b respectively. Ankle support 69 x may have heel opening 71 to provide greater flexibility. Rings 43 a and 43 b may be used with reinforcement tabs 64 a and 64 b to provide more support and as easier method for attaching resistance tube assembly 57 (not shown).

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1: A portable exercise apparatus for attaching to footwear comprising: a length of elastic material having a first tubing end and a second tubing end; a clip means secured to the first tubing end; a strap means sized to communicate with the clip means; and an anchoring means secured to the outside of an article of footwear for anchoring the elastic material to the article of footwear, whereby a wearer of an article of footwear may exercise by pulling on the elastic material attached to the footwear. 2: The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic material is one selected from the group consisting of resistance tubing, bungee cord, a rubber band, and a spring. 3: The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip means is one selected from the group consisting of a spring connector, spring clip, spring gate carabiner, shackle, buckle, and spring hook. 4: The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap means is one selected from the group consisting of a strap, loop, and cable tie. 5: The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchoring means is one selected from the group consisting of a threaded member, a pin, stitching, and a shoelace. 6: The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle secured to the second tubing end. 7: The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a handle strap securing the second tubing end to the handle. 8: The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fastener secured near the tubing second end adapted to fasten to a corresponding fastener secured to the article of footwear, whereby the entire apparatus can be neatly stored on the footwear when not in use. 9: The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fastener is a hook and loop fastener. 10: A portable exercise apparatus for attaching to footwear comprising: a length of elastic material having a first tubing end and a second tubing end; a clip means secured to the first tubing end; a strap means sized to communicate with the clip means; an anchoring means secured to the outside of an article of footwear for anchoring the elastic material to the article of footwear; and an article of footwear, whereby a wearer of an article of footwear may exercise by pulling on the elastic material attached to the footwear. 11: The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the elastic material is one selected from the group consisting of resistance tubing, bungee cord, a rubber band, and a spring. 12: The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the clip means is one selected from the group consisting of a spring connector, spring clip, spring gate carabiner, shackle, buckle, and spring hook. 13: The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the strap means is one selected from the group consisting of a strap, loop, ring, and cable tie. 14: The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the anchoring means is one selected from the group consisting of a threaded member, a pin, stitching, and a shoelace. 15: The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a handle secured to the second tubing end. 16: The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a handle strap securing the second tubing end to the handle. 17: The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a fastener secured near the tubing second end adapted to fasten to a corresponding fastener secured to the article of footwear, whereby the entire apparatus can be neatly stored on the footwear when not in use. 18: The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the fastener is a hook and loop fastener. 19: The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the footwear is one taken from the group consisting of a shoe, sneaker, sock, and ankle support. 20: The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a cord lock secured near a tubing end. 